Machine for molding concrete blocks



June 20, 1950 J. R. SIMS MACHINE FOR MOLDING CONCRETE BLOCKS Filed July 20 1946 25 34 i i 42 65 Z 54 hi! Z? 611m;-

INVENTOR.

Patented June 20, 1950 "MAHCHINEX its MOLDING CONCRETE fBLOCKS John B. Sims, El Monte, Calif., assignor of one- 1 a 1 half to MarvinSay, Manhattan Beach, Calif. Application uly zdiaiaserial No. 685,272

.This invention relates to an apparatus for molding plastic products and pertains moreparticularly to a mold for forming concrete bricks. A general object of the invention is to provide an improved mold that expedites casting and at the same time produces a cast with smoother surfaces and of a higher density.

A primary feature of the invention is the provision of vibratory sides for the mold that are freeto vibrate laterally as the mold is vibrated vertically during the casting operation, produc-' ing a cast of finer quality. The laterally vibrating sides of the mold brings the finer particles of the cast to its side surfaces, while the vertical vibrations of the mold brings moisture and finev particles to its top and bottom surfaces, assur-j ing smoother surfaces all over and a casting of a higher density throughout. Particularly" important is the capacity of the mold sides,'because of their vibratory condition, to free themselves from and preventadherence of the cast.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mold for forming hollow brick, wherein" the mold body and its core are connected together ina unit with limited relative parting movement, allowing the core to be first stripped from the cast, followed by stripping of the mold'body. Inthis manner the core and the'mold body may be removed from the cast as a unit and in one f operation.

Another feature of the apparatus is the pro-' vision of a guard or flange overlying the upper portion of the mold, that is connected with the mold carrying structure for engaging the core assembly to retain the core in position and in turn locate and secure the mold on its pallet. The result is a complete molding unit that can be readily handled before and after the cast ing operation. e

Other features and objects as well as those above mentioned, will be morereadily understood from a detailed description ofa typical. embodiment of the invention; reference. being. had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

.Fig; 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view through a molding apparatus embodying the in- Y vention; p

;Fig. 2 is an enlarged .transverse verticalsecw tional view taken on line 22of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mold proper; H

Fig. .4 is a fragmentary enlarger perspective] view of a corner of the moldillustrating the free vibratory side portions of the mold; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary brolgen sectional view showing a variational fo'rmof the invention.

49 Claims; (CI. 25-41) As'illustrated in Fig. 1, the molding'apparatus includes a frame H for vibratorily supporting the molding unit l2 and means I3 for vibrating the unit. The frame includes a lower deck 14 s for supporting the molding unit 12 and an upper deck 15 for supporting a raw material hopper IBI. The molding unit is supported on a vibra- The vibrating by a suitable bracket I9 on the deck M, the motor shaft having a crank arm carrying a crank pin 2| for connection with a pull cord 1- 22 attached to the underside of the table 16,

preferably at its center of mass as illustrated at 23. Downward rotation of the crank arm 20 by the motor shaft produces downward movement of the table it through the pull 'cord 22 l against the resistance 'of the springs 11, and

upward rotation of the arm allows the springs to return the table to its raised position, producing vertical vibrations in the molding unit The molding unit includes generally a mold proper 24 supported by a removable pallet 25 and releasably connected therewith by a resilient clamp means 26. Typically the mold is a double cavity mold having side walls or flanges 21 and 28 joined at their ends by end walls or flanges '1 29 and 30, and a central wall 33 dividing the mold into two cavities 3| and 32.

tion for independent vibration.

The mold 24 is designed to form the standard hollow. concrete bricks for building structures, and is provided with cores 36 and 31 for the cavities 3| and 32. The core 36 includes a pairof spaced rectangular hollow block sections 38 extending vertically through the mold, and havcore blocks 38 at their upper'ends.

The side flanges 21 and 28, the end flanges 29 and 30, and the dividing, wall 33, are so constructed as to be capable of independent vibration. The adjoining side and end flanges are connected together by welding 34 located at their lower portions'to leave free upper portions for independent vibra tion. The dividing wall 33 is connected with m theend walls 29 and by welding at irsl lower engaging portion to have a free upper porfrom the opposite sides of the blocks 38 and in the same plane as the web 39 to form continuations of the groove in the upper surface of the cast. The projections 40 and 4| extend to points outside of the mold 24 for purposes to be later described.

The core 37 for the cavity 32 is provided with a pair of spaced core :blocks 42 similar :to the blocks 38 described above. Web 43 connected with the opposing sides of the blocks 42 at their upper end, is semi-circular in cross-section and in the same plane as the web (.38. Web 43 is provided with a splitting plate 44 extending from the top to the bottom of the mold and centrally in the cavity '32, has the same transverse area as the core blocks 42. The plate 44 provides a weakened portion in the cast brick to faciliv tate splitting into two sections where a half brick is required. The core 3! is provided with projections 45 and 45, similar to the projections 40 randn4l of the core 36, extending outwardly from the opposite sides of the blocks 42 at their upper ends and in the same plane as the web 43 to form a continuous groove across the top face of the cast. The projections 45 and 4G-extend to points outside of the mold 24 for purposes to be later described. A downwardly extending leg 45a, of semi-circular cross-section, carried by the projection 45 is located adjacent the vend wall 29 of the mold to form a vertical groovelin the end of the brick.

The cores 36 and 3! are attached to the .mold 24 by slack connection 41 including L-shaped brackets 48 connected with the undersides of the several projections 40, 4t, 45 and 4S and carrying vertical bearing tubes 49. Brackets i! connectedwith the opposite'end walls 29 and 39 at their point of welding 34, carry vertically extending spaced pins 5| to be slidably received in the tubes 49 for guiding the cores in their vertical movement relative to the mold 24. Heads 52 are provided at the upper ends of the pins 5! for limiting the upward movement of the cores 36 and 31 relative to the mold 24. A bar or handle 53 connects the adjacent tubes 49 at the opposite ends of the cores to cause the cores to move inunison.

Resilient clamp means 26 associated with the table it, locates and retains the mold 24 and its cores in position on the removable .pallet 25.

Table 1.6 is a substantially rectangular plate and.

pivotally'carries a clamp 28 through hinge connection 54 at one side of the table. The hinge connection 54 is preferably adjustable vertically relative to the table 1.6 by spaced lock nuts 54a, see Fig. l, to compensate for variations in thickness of the pallets 25. The clamp may be in the form of an angle ironframe 55 surrounding the upper marginal portion of themold .24 and engaging the outer .end of the projections 40, Al, 45 and 4B of the cores 36 and 31 to locate and retain the cores in position. The .projections are each provided with a :recess 56 for receiving the top llangeof the clamping frame 55:50 that the latter has its upper surface in the same plane as the top surface of the projections and the core, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

Aresilientattachment in the form of aspring 5l1connected between the clamp frame .55 and the table [6, releasably holds the clamp frame .55 in :a position where its upper surface .and the uppersurfaces of the cores are flush with the upper -.edge of the mold 24, and the several semicircularprojectionsAlJ, .41, 45 and :45 are received in notches 5.8.in'1the upper edges of the end 4 walls 29 and 30. Springs 59 surrounding the stems 5! between the underside of the tubes 49 and the upper surface of the brackets 50, transmit downward force from the clamp 26 to the mold 24 for retaining the mold on the pallet 25. The frame 55 surrounds the upper edge of the mold 24 with suitable clearance to allow free Zibration of. the side and ;end walls of the mold Means in addition to clamp 26 may be in- 'cluded to assure proper positioning of the mold 24 on the removable pallet 25, and the location of ,the pallet on the vibratory table iii. For example, pins 10 may locate the mold on the removable 'pallet, and pins H position the pallet on the table. When the mold and the pallet 65 instead of the vibratory table iii. A hinge connection-63 at one side of the unit pivotally attaches the clamp frame 68 to the pallet 65 and a releasable resilient latch 61 at the other side of the unit retains the mold onthe pallet toform a complete assembly or unit that may be readily handled during the molding operations.

In operation, the mold24 and its cores 3Band 31 are connected together by the slack connection 4-! to form a unit. The clamping means 26 carried by the table it is adaptedto receive the mold .24 and its cores and locate the mold on the pallet 25,, as -illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The mold is positioned on the pallet 25, frame 55 pivoted downwardto bring the cores into position in their mold cavity, and the latch 57 engaged to yieldinglyhold-clamp 25 and bring the upper surfaces of the frame 55, cores 33 and .3] flush with the upper edge of the mold. The unit when'in position on the vibratory table 16 hasits upper surface in the same plane as the upper surface of the deck l5. The raw material hopper I6! is reciprocably carried by the frame H in a suitable manner to permit its being pulled forward by handle Bil to the dotted line positionillustrated in Fig. l, where its open bottom is in communication with the mold to fill the same and returned to the full line positionof- Fig.1, at-the same timewiping ofi the cast where it .-is flush with the upper edge of the mold.-

Energization .of the motor l8 causes vertical vibration of the table I6 and the molding unit l2 supported :thereon. The sides 21, 2.8, 29, 30 and the central dividing wall 33 .of 'the mold are free to vibrate laterally to'bringthe moisture and the finer-particles to allsurfaces of the .cast

and inturn produce a smooth-high density sur face freely and completely separable from the from the cast duetoslack. connection .41 between the cores and the mold. The mold audits-core are stripped .from the .castsimultaneously .incne operationend areretained in annit by theslack connection 47 to be ready for a subsequent molding operation.

The bottom edge of the material hopper ISI and the top surface of the removable pallet may be given any configuration other than the straight line shown, to conform to the desired shape of the product being molded or effect to be produced on its top or bottom surfaces.

I claim:

1. A molding apparatus of the character described including, a mold, a core for said mold having a projection extending outside of said mold, a bottom support for said mold, a guard pivotally connected with said support and surrounding the upper portion of said mold for engaging said projection to locate and retain said mold and core on said support and means for releasably connecting said guard with said support.

2. A molding unit of the character described comprising a mold having vibratory sides, a bottom support for said mold, a guard connected with said support and surrounding the upper portion of said mold with clearance to permit vibration of said sides, and means engageable by said guard to locate and retain said mold on said support.

3. A molding apparatus of the character described including, a mold having vibratory sides, a vibrating base, a mold supporting pallet on said base, a guard releasably connected with said base and surrounding the upper portion of said mold with clearance to permit vibration of said sides, means engageable by said guard to locate and retain said mold on said pallet, and means for vibrating said base.

4. A molding apparatus of the character described including, a mold having vibrator sides, a core for said mold having a projection extending outside of said mold, a resilient connection between said mold and core, a bottom support for said mold, a guard resiliently connected with said support and surrounding the upper portion of said mold with clearance to permit vibration of said sides, said guard being engageable with said projection to locate and retain said mold and core on said pallet, and means for vertically vibrating said support.

5. A molding unit of the character described including, a mold, a core for the mold, a slack connection permitting limited relative movement between the core and the mold, and releasable means for holding the core and mold against relative movement during the casting operation.

6. A molding unit of the character described including, a mold, a core for the mold, a slack connection permitting limited relative movement between the core and the mold, and yieldable means tending to urge said core and mold apart.

'7. A mold having vibratory sides, a core for the mold having a projection extending outside of the mold, a yieldable connection between said projection and a part of the mold, a pallet for supporting said mold, a yieldable clamp for engaging said projection to locate and retain said core and mold on said pallet, and means for vibrating said core and mold.

8. A molding apparatus of the character described including a mold, a pallet for supporting said mold, a guard overlying said pallet and extending outside the upper portion of said mold, and means associated with said guard and bearing downwardly against the mold to retain it on said pallet.

9. A molding apparatus of the character described including a mold, a core structure for said mold, a support for said mold, a guard connected with said support and extending outside the upper portion of said mold and retaining means carried by said core structure and engaged by said guard to bear downwardly against the mold and retain it on said support.

JOHN R. SIMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 384,295 Stockwell June 12, 1888 892,574 Bowler July 7, 1908 1,267,189 Curry et al. May 21, 1918 2,018,192 Sexton Oct. 22, 1935 2,311,480 Shugart et al. Feb. 16, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 556,396 Great Britain Oct. 4, 1943 

